Jim Varney

Biography

Jim Varney was an American actor and comedian best known as Ernest P. Worrell, a character that started in television commercials and later became a film and television franchise. Born in Lexington, Kentucky, he began in children's theater at eight and studied Shakespeare at the Barter Theatre in Virginia. His early television work included Johnny Cash and Friends and Fernwood 2 Night. Ernest Goes to Camp (1987) reached the box office top five for three weeks but brought a Razzie nomination for Worst New Star; a year later he won a Daytime Emmy for Hey Vern, It's Ernest!. He followed it with Ernest Saves Christmas (1988), Ernest Goes to Jail (1990), Ernest Scared Stupid (1991) and Ernest Rides Again (1993), played Jed Clampett in The Beverly Hillbillies (1993), and voiced Slinky Dog in Toy Story (1995) and Toy Story 2 (1999). Daddy and Them (2001) and Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) were released after his death in 2000.

50years old at death

Born June 15, 1949Lexington
Died February 10, 2000White House
Star sign: GeminiThe sign runs May 21 to June 20
James Albert Varney Jr. (birth name)Also credited as James Varney, James Albert Varney, Jim Albert Varney, Jim Albert Varney Jr. and James Varney Jr.

Movie Career

Films: 17
Career span: 16 years1985 to 2001

Genres

Comedy88%, 15 films
Family59%, 10 films
Adventure35%, 6 films
Animation24%, 4 films
Fantasy18%, 3 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

A change of course
Varney also created Sgt. Glory for that agency, a humorless drill instructor who scolded the client dairy's cows so they would give better milk.
Early training
During the 1970s, Varney trained in Shakespeare at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, and took part in a folk show at Opryland in its first year.

Jim Varney movies on Netflix

Atlantis: The Lost Empire2001IMDb rating 6.9as Jebidiah Allardyce 'Cookie' Farnsworth (voice)
Daddy and Them2001IMDb rating 5.7as Hazel Montgomery
Toy Story 21999IMDb rating 7.9as Slinky Dog (voice)
3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain1998IMDb rating 3.1as Lothar Zogg
Ernest in the Army1998IMDb rating 4.5as Ernest P. Worrell
Annabelle's Wish1997IMDb rating 7.2as Mr. Gus Holder
Slam Dunk Ernest1995IMDb rating 4.6as Ernest P. Worrell
Toy Story1995IMDb rating 8.3as Slinky Dog (voice)
Ernest Goes to School1994IMDb rating 4.7as Ernest P. Worrell
Ernest Rides Again1993IMDb rating 4.8as Ernest P. Worrell
The Beverly Hillbillies1993IMDb rating 5.1as Jed Clampett
Wilder Napalm1993IMDb rating 5.5as Rex
Ernest Scared Stupid1991IMDb rating 5.9as Ernest / Phineas Worrell
Ernest Goes to Jail1990IMDb rating 5.5as Ernest P. Worrell
Ernest Saves Christmas1988IMDb rating 5.8as Ernest P. Worrell
Ernest Goes to Camp1987IMDb rating 5.5as Ernest P. Worrell
Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam1985IMDb rating 4.9as Dr. Otto VonSchnick / Rudd Hardtact / Laughin' Jack / Guy Dandy / Auntie Nelda / Ernest P. Worrell

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Toy Story1995 Adventure, Animation, Comedyas Slinky Dogvoice
IMDb rating 8.31.2M votes
Toy Story 21999 Adventure, Animation, Comedyas Slinky Dogvoice
IMDb rating 7.9684K votes
Ernest Saves Christmas1988as Ernest P. Worrell
IMDb rating 5.814K votes
Ernest Scared Stupid1991as Ernest / Phineas Worrell
IMDb rating 5.914K votes
The Beverly Hillbillies1993as Jed Clampett
IMDb rating 5.122K votes
Atlantis: The Lost Empire2001as Jebidiah Allardyce 'Cookie' Farnsworthvoice
IMDb rating 6.9150K votes
3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain1998as Lothar Zogg
IMDb rating 3.113K votes
Wilder Napalm1993as Rex
IMDb rating 5.51.9K votes

Most often with

John R. Cherry III directed five of these films, John Cherry three and John Lasseter two. Bill Byrge appears in five of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Bill Byrge

Daniel Butler

Gailard Sartain

Jackie Welch

Wallace Shawn

Tom HanksJohn R. Cherry IIIDirector, 5 films

John CherryDirector, 3 films

John LasseterDirector, 2 films

Films together

Bill Byrge5 films together, 1985 to 1994
Bill Byrge's page
- Ernest Goes to School1994IMDb rating 4.7Varney as Ernest P. WorrellByrge as Bobby
- Ernest Scared Stupid1991IMDb rating 5.9Varney as Ernest / Phineas WorrellByrge as Bobby Tulip
- Ernest Goes to Jail1990IMDb rating 5.5Varney as Ernest P. WorrellByrge as Bobby
- Ernest Saves Christmas1988IMDb rating 5.8Varney as Ernest P. WorrellByrge as Bobby
- Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam1985IMDb rating 4.9Varney as Dr. Otto VonSchnick / Rudd Hardtact / Laughin' Jack / Guy Dandy / Auntie Nelda / Ernest P. WorrellByrge as Gas Station Attendant
Daniel Butler4 films together, 1985 to 1991
Daniel Butler's page
- Ernest Scared Stupid1991IMDb rating 5.9Varney as Ernest / Phineas WorrellButler as Cliff
- Ernest Goes to Jail1990IMDb rating 5.5Varney as Ernest P. WorrellButler as Waiter
- Ernest Goes to Camp1987IMDb rating 5.5Varney as Ernest P. WorrellButler as Eddie (Chef #2)
- Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam1985IMDb rating 4.9Varney as Dr. Otto VonSchnick / Rudd Hardtact / Laughin' Jack / Guy Dandy / Auntie Nelda / Ernest P. WorrellButler as Slave Willie
Gailard Sartain3 films together, 1987 to 1990
Gailard Sartain's page
- Ernest Goes to Jail1990IMDb rating 5.5Varney as Ernest P. WorrellSartain as Chuck
- Ernest Saves Christmas1988IMDb rating 5.8Varney as Ernest P. WorrellSartain as Chuck
- Ernest Goes to Camp1987IMDb rating 5.5Varney as Ernest P. WorrellSartain as Jake (Chef #1)
Jackie Welch3 films together, 1985 to 1991
Jackie Welch's page
- Ernest Scared Stupid1991IMDb rating 5.9Varney as Ernest / Phineas WorrellWelch as Teacher
- Ernest Goes to Jail1990IMDb rating 5.5Varney as Ernest P. WorrellWelch as Judge
- Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam1985IMDb rating 4.9Varney as Dr. Otto VonSchnick / Rudd Hardtact / Laughin' Jack / Guy Dandy / Auntie Nelda / Ernest P. WorrellWelch as Doris Talbot
Wallace Shawn2 films together, 1995 to 1999
Wallace Shawn's page
- Toy Story 21999IMDb rating 7.9Varney as Slinky DogvoiceShawn as Rex the Green Dinosaurvoice
- Toy Story1995IMDb rating 8.3Varney as Slinky DogvoiceShawn as Rexvoice
Tom Hanks2 films together, 1995 to 1999
Tom Hanks's page
- Toy Story 21999IMDb rating 7.9Varney as Slinky DogvoiceHanks as Woodyvoice
- Toy Story1995IMDb rating 8.3Varney as Slinky DogvoiceHanks as Woodyvoice
John R. Cherry IIIDirector, 5 films, 1987 to 1995
All films by John R. Cherry III
- Slam Dunk Ernest1995IMDb rating 4.6Varney as Ernest P. Worrell
- Ernest Scared Stupid1991IMDb rating 5.9Varney as Ernest / Phineas Worrell
- Ernest Goes to Jail1990IMDb rating 5.5Varney as Ernest P. Worrell
- Ernest Saves Christmas1988IMDb rating 5.8Varney as Ernest P. Worrell
- Ernest Goes to Camp1987IMDb rating 5.5Varney as Ernest P. Worrell
John CherryDirector, 3 films, 1985 to 1998
All films by John Cherry
- Ernest in the Army1998IMDb rating 4.5Varney as Ernest P. Worrell
- Ernest Rides Again1993IMDb rating 4.8Varney as Ernest P. Worrell
- Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam1985IMDb rating 4.9Varney as Dr. Otto VonSchnick / Rudd Hardtact / Laughin' Jack / Guy Dandy / Auntie Nelda / Ernest P. Worrell
John LasseterDirector, 2 films, 1995 to 1999
All films by John Lasseter
- Toy Story 21999IMDb rating 7.9Varney as Slinky Dogvoice
- Toy Story1995IMDb rating 8.3Varney as Slinky Dogvoice
Also two films together16 more actors
- Cloris LeachmanAnnabelle's Wish (1997) and The Beverly Hillbillies (1993)
- John RatzenbergerToy Story 2 (1999) and Toy Story (1995)
- R. Lee ErmeyToy Story 2 (1999) and Toy Story (1995)
- Jack AngelToy Story 2 (1999) and Toy Story (1995)
- Tim AllenToy Story 2 (1999) and Toy Story (1995)
- Annie PottsToy Story 2 (1999) and Toy Story (1995)
- Laurie MetcalfToy Story 2 (1999) and Toy Story (1995)
- Don RicklesToy Story 2 (1999) and Toy Story (1995)
- Linda KashErnest Goes to School (1994) and Ernest Rides Again (1993)
- Jeffrey Buckner FordErnest Goes to Jail (1990) and Ernest Goes to Camp (1987)
- Larry BlackErnest Scared Stupid (1991) and Ernest Goes to Camp (1987)
- John MorrisToy Story 2 (1999) and Toy Story (1995)
- Mac BennettErnest Goes to Jail (1990) and Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam (1985)
- Mike MontgomeryErnest Scared Stupid (1991) and Ernest Goes to Jail (1990)
- Bruce ArntsonErnest Goes to School (1994) and Ernest Goes to Jail (1990)
- Melanie WheelerErnest Scared Stupid (1991) and Ernest Goes to Jail (1990)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Jim Varney's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$1.8 billion

10 of the 17 films have a worldwide figure.

10Worldwide figure
2US gross only
2Never in cinemas
3Figure not found

Top grosser

Toy Story1995Slinky Dog$962 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Toy Story1995as Slinky Dog (voice)
$962M54.1% of the total
2
Toy Story 21999as Slinky Dog (voice)
$497M27.9% of the total
3
Atlantis: The Lost Empire2001as Jebidiah Allardyce 'Cookie' Farnsworth (voice)
$186M10.5% of the total
4
The Beverly Hillbillies1993as Jed Clampett
$57M3.2% of the total
5
Ernest Saves Christmas1988as Ernest P. Worrell
$28M1.6% of the total
6
Ernest Goes to Jail1990as Ernest P. Worrell
$25M1.4% of the total
7
Ernest Goes to Camp1987as Ernest P. Worrell
$24M1.3% of the total
8
3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain1998as Lothar Zogg
$376K0.0% of the total